Articles: service dog

Comedian Drew Lynch has a service dog named Stella. How can you walk a bridge between telling the truth and being funny? Lynch successfully does just that. (Note, while I think he’s funny and the over-riding message is on target, not all Lynch says is accurate. For example, COVID-19 is not a strain of flu.…

Taking pets on Uber (and Lyft) has mostly never been an issue, particularly for small dogs and cats (in carriers, of course).  Now, Uber created a program called Uber Pet. Sounds good, right? Well, it does guarantee your pet will get a ride. However, you now must now pay an extra fee. On their site,…

A conversation with the man behind the giant VMX veterinary conference, and much more that the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) , Gene O’Neill, from my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. I was speaking to Gene from the VMX veterinary conference, where I spoke this year and have done so many times in…

Fighting for our nation, making all sorts of personal sacrifices for the good of country, you’d think our U.S. Veteran’s Administration (USVA) would have their backs providing or at least supporting service dogs for veterans. According to the U.S. Veteran’s Administration (and other sources), there’s more Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Syndrome (PTSD) diagnosed today than…

HAUTE DOG | CHICAGO will be returning to The Peninsula for a 4th year. As one of Chicago’s premiere events, this furry twist on a high-end fashion show not only features some of Chicago’s finest people modeling the latest trends, but some of Chicago’s most couture canines as well. On Thursday, September 19 that catwalk…

Veterinary technician Beckie Mosser explains on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show what service dogs can do – and it’s pretty incredible. Mosser says correctly that service dogs are actually like medical equipment in some ways, helping people with mostly invisible disabilities like detecting diabetic crashes and spikes, or serving people with post…

Ryan DeRoche tells me what a service dog means to him following his mountain bike accident several years ago. Through the non-profit National Education for Assistance Dog Services or NEADS World Class Service Dogs, he was partnered with a new best friend named Oliver. He says on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show,…

The Animal Rescue Foundation Pets and Vets Program is quite incredible really. Taking homeless dogs and training them appropriately – with additional training from a veteran in need of a service dog for PTSD. That dog is paired with the veteran, which not only finds that pup an important home but also makes more space…

Flying with comfort animals/service animals has become very complicated in recent years. In part, because some abuse the system. However, in my view, the airlines themselves are also responsible as are ignorant pet caretakers. Delta Airlines said Monday that it will ban all emotional support animals on flights longer than eight hours and will ban…

Barbara Handleman, certified animal behavior consultant,  is the author of “Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook” talks about U.S. veterans needing service dogs in record numbers and training service dogs on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. Handelman feels strongly that so many dogs are not appropriately trained to do the real work…